Compact floribunda rose plant named `POULpear`

ABSTRACT

A new floribunda rose plant which has abundant pale orange colored flowers, compact and vigorous growth, and abundant dark green foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of compactfloribunda rose plant which originated from a controlled crossingbetween an unnamed seedling and `RUImired`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,770.The two parents were crossed and the resulting seeds were planted in acontrolled environment. The new variety is named `POULpear`.

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamedseedling created by the same inventors, by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

1. `POULpear` is a compact floribunda with pale orange colored flowersand the unnamed seedling is a grandiflora with bright orange flowers.

2. The unnamed seedling resulted from a crossing of `POULetta` and`Amber Queen`.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, `RUImired`,by the following combination of characteristics:

1. `POULpear` is a compact floribunda with pale orange colored flowerswhereas `RUImired` is miniature rose with orange-red flowers.

2. The foliage and flowers of `POULpear` are larger than `RUImired`.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercialgreenhouse culture was to create a new and distinct variety with uniquequalities, such as:

1. Uniform and abundant flowers;

2. Vigorous and compact growth;

3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;

4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;

5. Durable flowers and foliage which make a variety suitable fordistribution in the floral industry.

As part of their rose development program, L. Pernille Olesen and MogensN. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridization andconducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlledenvironment in Fredensborg, Denmark.

`POULpear` was selected by the inventors as a single plant from theprogeny of the hybridization in April, 1993.

Asexual reproduction of `POULpear` by cuttings and traditional buddingwas first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in their nursery inFredensborg, Denmark in July, 1993. This initial and other subsequentpropagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated thatthe characteristics of `POULpear` are true to type and are transmittedfrom one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, stems, and a plant of`POULpear` from a field nursery. Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1:

1. Stem showing branching and the attachment of leaves, buds, andpeduncles;

2. Flower bud, partially opened bud, and open bloom;

3. Flower petals, detached;

4. Sepals, receptacle, and pedicel;

5. Flowering stem as well as a bare stem exhibiting thorns; and

6. Leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of `POULpear`, as observed in its growthin glasshouses in Fredensborg, Denmark, Half Moon Bay, Calif. and infield nursery in Applegate, Jackson County, Oreg. Color references aremade using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) ColourChart, 1995, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is `POULrek` apatented variety by the same inventors described and illustrated in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 9,688 and issued on Nov. 12, 1996. Chart 1 detailsseveral physical characteristics of `POULpear` and `POULrek`.

    ______________________________________                                        CHART 1                                                                       `POULpear`               `POULrek`                                            ______________________________________                                        Upper petal                                                                           Orange Group 27A on outermost                                                                      Red Group 36D                                    surface,                                                                              petals and blend of Orange Group 27A                                  open bloom                                                                            and Yellow-Orange Group 19A                                                   on innermost petals                                                   Color, upper                                                                          Orange Group 27A on outermost                                                                      Red Group 36D                                    petal   petals and blend of Orange Group 27A                                  surface,                                                                              and Yellow-Orange Group 19A                                           after   on innermost petals                                                   opening                                                                       Color, basal                                                                          Yellow Group 5B-5C.  Yellow Group 4D                                  petal spot.                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Parents: Unnamed seedling×`RUImired`.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrida.

Commercial.--Compact floribunda.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

Blooming habit: Recurrent.

Flower bud:

Size.--Upon opening, 20 mm-25 mm in length from base of receptacle toflower tip.

Bud form.--Ovoid to globular.

Bud color.--A blend of Orange Group 27A and 24C at 1/4 opening.

Sepals.--Green Group 143B. On plants grown under high light conditions,sepals exhibit intonations of Greyed-Red Group 184A. Weak to moderatefoliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals. Exterior surfaces ofthe sepals moderately pubescent. Stipitate glands present on margins ofsepals with appendages.

Peduncle.--Surface: Limited to moderate numbers of fine hairs andstipitate glands. Length: 15 mm to 40 mm range of length. Color: GreenGroup 143C. On plants grown under high light conditions, pedunclesexhibit intonations of Greyed-Red Group 184A-B. Strength: Upright.

Receptacle.--Surface: With a moderate number of fine hairs. Shape:Broadly urn-shaped. Size: Medium. 6 mm (height)×8 mm (width) on average.Color: Green Group 143C to 143D.

Borne.--Generally with one to three buds per flowering stem.

Flower bloom:

Size.--Medium to large for a 15 cm-17 cm pot rose. Average diameter is60 mm-65 mm when open.

Form.--Petals reflex. Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Uponopening, upper part: Convex. Upon opening, lower part: Flat. Openflower, upper part: Flattened convex. Open flower, lower part: Flat.

Petalage.--Double to very double. Average range: 30-40 under normalconditions with 10-15 petaloids.

Color:

Upon opening.--Outermost petals: Upper Surface: Blend of Orange Group27A and Yellow-Orange 19B. Reverse Surface: Orange Group 27A. Innermostpetals: Upper Surface: Blend of Orange Group 27A and Yellow-Orange 19A.Reverse Surface: Orange Group 27A.

After opening.--Outermost petals: Upper Surface: Orange Group 27A.Reverse Surface: Orange Group 27A. Innermost petals: Upper Surface:Blend of Orange Group 27A and Yellow-Orange Group 19A. Reverse Surface:Orange Group 27A.

Basal petal spots: A spot exists on the outer side and inner side of thebase of the petal.

Upon opening.--Outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-White Group 157B.Inner Side: Yellow Group 5B. Innermost petals: Outer Side: Green-WhiteGroup 157B. Inner Side: Yellow Group 5B.

After opening.--Outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-White 157B. InnerSide: Yellow Group 5C. Innermost petals: Outer Side: Green-White Group157B. Inner Side: Yellow Group 5C.

General tonality: No change in the general tonality at the end of thefirst day. Afterwards, general tonality gradually changes to OrangeGroup 27B.

Petals:

Petal reflex.--Petals reflex backwards slightly.

Petaloids.--Present. Quantity: 10-15.

Fragrance.--Light, fresh fragrance.

Duration.--As a pot plant, flowers last from 6 to 8 days. As a cutflower 5 to 6 days.

Texture.--Moderate.

Shape.--Round. Inner petals narrower.

Form.--Inner petals reflexed slightly. Outermost petals double reflexed.

Arrangement.--Regular.

Reproductive organs:

Pollen.--Color: Yellow-Orange Group 22A. Abundance: Average.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 22A.

Filaments.--Color: Yellow-Green Group 150C.

Stigmas.--At or slightly superior in location to anthers. Color:Green-White Group 157C with intonations of Greyed-Red Group 179A.

Styles.--Color: Green-White Group 157C.

Hips.--None observed.

PLANT

Plant growth: Vigorous, compact, upright to bushy. When grown as a 15 cmpot plant, the average height of the plant itself is 22 to 25 cm and theaverage width is 22 cm. When grown as a nursery plant on its own roots,the average plant height is 60-75 cm and the average width is 60-75 cm.

Stems:

Color.--Young wood: Green Group 137C. On plants grown under high lightconditions, young wood exhibits intonations of Greyed-Red Group 184B.Older wood: Green Group 137B.

Thorns.--Incidence: Moderate thorns. Size: Average length: 6 mm-7 mm.Color: Younger wood: Red Group 38D. Older wood: Greyed-Orange Group177A. Shape: Linear to slightly curved downward.

Bark.--Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.

Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets on normal leaves in middle ofthe stem: 5 leaflets. Some leaves with 7 leaflets.

Leaf size.--Medium to large. 90 mm (l)×65 mm (w).

Abundance.--Abundant.

Color.--Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A-139A. Lower Leaf Surface:Green Group 138B. On plants grown under high light conditions, lowerleaf surfaces may exhibit intonations of Greyed-Red Group 180B. Juvenilefoliage: Upper leaf surface: Green Group 137A. On plants grown underhigh light conditions; upper leaf surfaces, petioles and rachis exhibitintonations of Greyed-Red Group 180B. Lower leaf surface: Green Group137A. On plants grown under high light conditions; lower leaf surfaces,petioles and rachis exhibit intonations of Greyed-Red Group 180B.

Plant leaves and leaflets:

Stipules.--Present. Size: 10 mm-12 mm. Color: Green Group 138B. Presenceof hairs: On margins.

Petiole.--Length: 15 mm-25 mm. Color: Green Group 137B. Underneath: Withlimited number of hairs and prickles.

Rachis.--With limited number of small prickles underneath. Color: GreenGroup 137B.

Leaflet edge.--Serrated.

Shape.--Leaflets are: Ovate.

Leaflets.--Number: Generally 5.

Other.--Moderately glossy. Thick texture.

Disease resistance: Above average resistance to mildew, black spot andBotrytis under normal growing conditions in Half Moon Bay, Calif. andFredensborg, Denmark.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the, compactfloribunda class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as adistinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant, pale orange coloredflowers, vigorous and compact growth, year round flowering underglasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttingsin pots, and durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitablefor distribution in the floral industry.